Rail-joint.



J. S. IMES.

RAIL JOINT.A APPLIOATION FILED MAR. a1, 190e.

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PATENTED'SEPT. 4, 1906.

' fish-plates.

JAMES S. IMES, OF MOKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO WILLIAM G.

WILSON AND ONETHTRD TO GEORGE M.

BOWMAN, OF MOKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed March 31, 190 6. Serial No. 309,044.

[o (ML whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. IMEs, a citizen of lthe United States, residing at McKeesport, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedI certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention refers to improvements in rail-joints, and is particularly designed for the purpose of providing a joint capable of strongly and rigidly connecting the meeting ends of the rails and of relieving the bolts from shearing strain.

The features of improvementreside in the construction of the fish-plates or bars and their embodiment with the rail ends and the securing-bolts.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a rail-joint constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the front fish-plate having been removed. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line III III of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line IV IV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the fish-plates. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the meeting ends of the rails.

The ends of the connected rails 2 2 are provided with transverse holes 3, preferably made oblong or of greater length longitudidinally of the rails than width for the purpose of allowing of expansion or contraction of the rails independent of the connecting The rails are joined by fishplates or bars 4 4 at each side of standard construction and preferably hollowed or dished on the inside, as shown at 5. When flanged plates are used, the flange 6 is of the usual standard cross-section adapted to embrace the flange 7 of the rail and to be secured to the ties by the usual Spikes or by means of suitable supplemental braces ork shoes.

Each fish-plate is rovided with inwardlyextending lugs or osses 8 of a diameter adapted to iit neatly within the'openings '3 between their top and bottom edges. As shown in Fig. 3, the oblong holes provide clearance at each side of the lugs 8 lon itudinally of the rails, so that the rails wil be free to move within the necessary limits to allow of expansion or contraction, as stated.

The lugs 8 of each fish-plate are so arranged that each pair of lugs on either plate will engage the holes of both rails. As shown, the lugs of one plate are arranged to engage the innermost or adjacent hole of each rail and the lugs of the other plate to engage the outer holes of the rails, and by this arrangement it will be seen that the lugs project inwardly from opposite sides alternately at each side of the joint.

The plates 4 are held together by bolts 9, passing entirely through both plates and the lug of one plate, being secured by the usual' nuts 10 and, if desired, any suitable nut-lock.

The inner faces of the sh-plates tightly embrace the web and flanges of the rail at each side, and the lugs preferably abut alternately against the inner face of the opposite plate, thus providinga solid substantial construction. By this means the bolts are protected from all danger of shearing by the rail, while longitudinal or shearing strains are entirely met and provided fory by the lugs themselves.

In case it is desired to provide more than yfour holes and corresponding lugs and bolts, as, say, six or eight, the lugs will be correspondingly arranged so as to preferably project inwardly in alternate arrangement.

It will also be understood that but one of the fish-plates may be provided with the lugs 8 and that the other plate may be left plane lon the inside, also that the lugs may be solid,

engaging appropriate apertures in the railwe s, supplemental in the plates and webs for the securing-bolts,

and also that other connecting means than the bolts may be used within the skill and knowledge of the maker or mechanic.

The entire device as thus constructed is very stron and rigid and serves to permanently hol and satisfactory manner. The presence of the lugs greatly stiffens and reinforces the joint, and it will be seen that the function of the bolts is to hold the parts in position, whileI being protected from shearing or injury at all times.

The construction of the device otherwise is in accordance with the best approved pracopenmgs being provided the rails together in an eflicient IOO tice, and the joint will commend itself to all those accustomed to this class of devices.

What l claim is- 1. In a railejoint, the combination with Iabutting rails provided with transverse longitudinally-oblong apertures, of embracing fish-plates provided with cylindrical hollow lugs engaging said apertures, and securingbolts extending through said plates and lugs,

fish-plates provided with cylindrical hollow lugs engaging said apertures, and securingbolts extending through said plates and lugs, the lugs of each 'plate engaging the apertures at each side of the meeting ends of the rails respectively, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature 2o in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES S. IMES.

Witnesses:

C. M. CLARKE, H. M. ConwrN. 

